Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD)
Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) is the term commonly used to describe a multitude of degenerative processes of the intervertebral disks. Some of these alterations are age or trauma related. However, much of the inherent intervertebral disk abnormality is most likely a genetic-related predisposition for disk degeneration. Disk degeneration subsequently predisposes the disk elements to damage and injury. In some breeds of dogs, the intervertebral disks will undergo degeneration prematurely compared to what would be expected during the normal aging process. Degenerative processes within the disk ultimately result in a loss of water content of the disk elements (usually the nucleus pulposus), decreasing the ability of the disk to deform when pressurized and support the inherent forces that are placed on the disk structure. When forces are applied to the disk via a spinal column, the disk elements may fail, resulting in structural damage to the disk. In these instances, portions of the intervertebral disks may prolapse or rupture. If the disk elements prolapses or ruptures dorsally or laterally, spinal cord or exiting nerve root compression, respectively, may result.
Any breed of dog may potentially have clinical abnormalities due to damage or disease of the intervertebral disk. Some have more disk extrusions, whereas others are more likely to have disk protrusions. In still some cases, a combination of disk extrusions and protrusions occurs.
Any breed of dog may potentially have clinical abnormalities due to damage or disease of the intervertebral disk. Some have more disk extrusions, whereas others are more likely to have disk protrusions. In still some cases, a combination of disk extrusions and protrusions occurs.
Age of Onset: Most commonly occur in animals greater than 1 year of age
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical signs can be acute or chronic. Clinical signs of IVDD most often include spinal pain and varying degrees of paresis. Depending upon the rapidity with which the intervertebral disk elements are released into the spinal canal, clinical signs may be more acute in onset, or more chronic and progressive. In general, extrusions of material more often result in acute onset of clinical signs, whereas protrusions more often result in a more chronic clinical course.
Clinical signs can be acute or chronic. Clinical signs of IVDD most often include spinal pain and varying degrees of paresis. Depending upon the rapidity with which the intervertebral disk elements are released into the spinal canal, clinical signs may be more acute in onset, or more chronic and progressive. In general, extrusions of material more often result in acute onset of clinical signs, whereas protrusions more often result in a more chronic clinical course.
Clinical Signs:
Posture and Appearance
Painful postures such as limited movement of a body part
Movement
Varying degrees of limb dysfunction
Proprioception
Paresis or paralysis
Spinal Reflexes
If the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion involves an area of the spinal cord known as intumescences, decreased to absent reflexes often result. When the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion involves other regions of the spinal cord, the spinal reflexes will be normal to increased.
Special Reflexes (e.g. cutaneous trunci)
May be abnormal if the disease occurs in the thoracolumbar spinal cord
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
With more severe spinal impairment, voluntary urination and defecation may be lost.
Painful Reactions
Intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion may result in spinal pain, however, this is not always consistent.
Pain Sensation
Depends on the degree of spinal disease. With severe spinal cord pathology, pain sensation may be lost caudal to the disease location.
Posture and Appearance
Painful postures such as limited movement of a body part
Movement
Varying degrees of limb dysfunction
Proprioception
Paresis or paralysis
Spinal Reflexes
If the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion involves an area of the spinal cord known as intumescences, decreased to absent reflexes often result. When the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion involves other regions of the spinal cord, the spinal reflexes will be normal to increased.
Special Reflexes (e.g. cutaneous trunci)
May be abnormal if the disease occurs in the thoracolumbar spinal cord
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
With more severe spinal impairment, voluntary urination and defecation may be lost.
Painful Reactions
Intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion may result in spinal pain, however, this is not always consistent.
Pain Sensation
Depends on the degree of spinal disease. With severe spinal cord pathology, pain sensation may be lost caudal to the disease location.
Spinal cord
Autosomal semi-dominant FGF4 retrogene
Chondrodystrophic breeds are at increased risk for developing intervertebral disc disease. This short legged, long bodied phenotype is influenced by a group fo FGF4 retrogenes inherited in an semi-dominant pattern where dogs with two alelles will be smaller than dogs with only one allele of the FGF4 retrogene.
For breed specific genetic testing follow the link below:
vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/cddy-cdpa
Chondrodystrophic breeds are at increased risk for developing intervertebral disc disease. This short legged, long bodied phenotype is influenced by a group fo FGF4 retrogenes inherited in an semi-dominant pattern where dogs with two alelles will be smaller than dogs with only one allele of the FGF4 retrogene.
For breed specific genetic testing follow the link below:
vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/cddy-cdpa
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